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When life gets tough, or mundane, or uninspiring, shifting our focus and allowing our perspective to expand and lift like a big balloon filled with hot, rising air that has no where to go but up and out can offer a break. Exploring all of the corners of our experience from these new and exalted angles presents us with glimpses into new corners of potential experience that we don’t habitually inhabit, but that are really just as easily inhabitable, so long as we give them a little attention and make them, too, feel important.

Consider living from this angle: What would life be like if we insisted on choosing the experience that brought life into our lives? What if we refused to dwell and to fritter and to obsess and to stick on those things that drain life away? If we could only gently and consistently bring ourselves back and re-shift and re-focus and re-group so that we encouraged the most aliveness, all the time, no matter what–whether we are reaching for (or skipping) breakfast, or choosing how to spend the hour right before bedtime, or making big life decisions–what might this be like?

I would like to propose that each of us deserves to feel alive. (Isn’t that why we are here?!) This doesn’t mean we feel joy always, or that we eat birthday cake for every meal from this moment forward, or that we never do anything we don’t want to do ever again. It is instead that we have every right and every responsibility to evaluate all of the corners of our lives and all of the big and the small things, the today and the tomorrow things, the now or the never things–all of the things that we do with our twenty-four daily hours, all of the environments, individuals, institutions, obligations, thought patterns, food patterns, addiction patterns, relational patterns that color our lives–and that we recognize that it is in our best interest to choose those things that bring us alive, and also to learn how to orient toward things so that we rise to life.

Secondly, I would like to propose that each of us is equipped with a very special tool, that whether or not we even ask for its help, is there to tell us whether we are bringing ourselves alive. This is our human body.

Our minds are really skilled at tricking us into believing that particular small things aren’t actually that small, or that there is no way around them, and all sorts of other convincing arguments. Our bodies–every single one of them, I would argue–are quite unskilled in comparison. They have this endearing little quality about them that has them failing miserably when it comes to lying. They all fail in their own unique ways, but they fail nonetheless. They fail at upholding a false truth that everything is okay when we go on living the kind of life, or eating the kind of breakfast, or perpetuating the same old relationship dynamics, or spending the kind of time on the couch or in front of the mirror with the kind of thoughts going through our heads that do not bring us alive.

We can only go on so long choosing or resigning ourselves to or finding ways in which to numb and distract ourselves from the things and the people and the patterns that are too small for us before our bodies start to groan, or scream, or retreat, or go numb or do silly things like stop sleeping or insisting on subsisting on peanut M&Ms alone.

When it comes to making aliveness-affirming choices in our day-to-day and when it comes to huge things, our bodies are a good place to start. Taking quiet time to close our eyes and quiet our minds, and to feel what happens in our chests, or to our shoulders, or deep in our bellies when we hold this or that situation close is where the truth lives. Thoughts are too often confusing and contradictory and schizophrenic and exhausting and wordy, and maybe they don’t even have any feel to them any more, and they just make up a dried-out, worn-out story that’s been told for years and has no oomph anymore. Our bodies are where the juice and the meat and the realness is. This is our gauge for that which brings us alive.

With the sun’s big warmth still here, and as the slivers of light get shed from our days, nature calls upon us to combine the inspiration and the bounty of summer with the harvest, and the taking stock, and then the gradual cutting away and letting go of fall that we will see as the leaves begin to gently float down from the trees. Take time to harness this potent energy, combine it with the honest wisdom of your body, and take an inventory of pulsing, breathing, radiating aliveness in your life.

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Ashwagandha is a renowned adaptogen, improving physical fitness and increasing the immune power of the body.

Known by its botanical name as Withania Sominfera, Ashwaganda hails a variety of titles including Indian Ginseng and Winter Cherry. As a Sanskrit word meaning “Horse Smell” because the roots smell like a horse, Ayurveda classifies Ashwagandha as a Rasayana. Rasayana herbs foster physical and mental health and help rejuvenate. Ashwagandha is native to Indai, South Africa, and the Middle East, with small yellow leaves and red berry-like fruits.

Ashwagandha’s active constituents are of vital importance. Some of these are withanolides, alkaloids, choline, amino acids and other essential fatty acids. The alkaloids are responsible for its pain relieving and antiseptic properties. The withanolides (withaferin A and withanolide D, in particular) support healthy levels of hormones in the body, thus supporting strong fertility.

Researchers have found Ashwagandha significantly affects the immune system in a positive way by increasing white blood cells known as defenders of the human body. With an increased amount of white blood cells in the blood stream, our immune system is able to counteract everyday problems of cough, cold, and fever. Modern research now further informs us of the immune tonic nature of this herb by finding many beneficial antioxidant properties.

Ashwagandha helps relax both muscles and the central nervous system, helping those who are sick with various illnesses as it soothes pain in the joints and muscles during recovery. Ayurvedic practitioners use Ashwaganda to support healthy blood sugar levels, and both the cardiovascular and endocrine systems.

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Sanskrit elegantly combines “Ayu,” meaning life and “Veda,” meaning wisdom, to create the word Ayurveda. This ancient study of medicine, prevalent in India for thousands of years before the first century, descended directly from the Vedas. The Vedas -Rigveda, Samveda, Atharvaveda, Yejurveda – are Hindu holy books expounding on a variety of subjects including legendary creation stories, the Hindu deities, teachings of the saints and worldly knowledge for living a happy and healthy life.

Atharvaveda, consisting of 114 hymns, is an “Upveda” or a sub- section of Atharvaveda and is further classified into 8 different subjects – Surgery, Gerontology, Toxicology, ENT, Psychology, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine and Aphrodisiac Remedies.

Lord Dhanvantari, the God of Ayurveda, is considered by some to be a physician to other Indian Gods and Goddesses! All the practitioners of Ayurveda worship Him and seek His blessings before starting their medical treatments.

Charaka (known as the Father of Medicine), Sushruta (known as the Father of Surgery) and Vagbhata, all students of Ayurveda, promoted this knowledge to new horizons during their lifetimes. Their medical scriptures are known as Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya. The period from 200 BCE to 400 CE is widely considered the Golden Era of Ayurveda.

Arabic and Persian translations of these scriptures show adherents following and propagating Ayurveda across the world. Charaka Samhita greatly influenced Islamic scholar Ali Ibn Rabban Al Tabari, who in turn, wrote the first medical encyclopedia. Lord Buddha further spread the knowledge of Ayurveda in eastern Asian countries like China, Sri Lanka, Korea and Tibet.

However, Ayurveda suffered alongside the rest of India’s cultural heritage during the Colonial Era when India was ruled by the British. After India declared her independence in 1947, the Indian people resurrected the Ayurvedic Institutes to teach the layman. Many people have returned to the Ayurvedic focus on prevention instead of modern medicine’s aggressive treatments.

Today, modern practitioners employ Ayurveda in their practice, and the power of yoga and meditation are now widely accepted and practiced all over the world.

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The roots of Ayurveda can be found in the Vedic scriptures known as “Atharvaveda”. The Vedas are some of the oldest scriptures on Earth, with the original texts dating back to 1500 BCE. The original texts are still available and highly respected worldwide.

Atharvaveda deals with a variety of medical treatments for treating the sick and unhealthy. Therapies used in the treatments are Yoga, Meditation, Aroma, Herbs, Diet, Astrology, Gems and Stones, Amulets, Massage and Surgery.

Traditional Indian beliefs give further insight into the Vedas. It is said that the Indian deity Vishnu was reincarnated on Earth as Saint Veda Vyasa and wrote all the Vedas. His students Charak, Sushruta and Vagbhata wrote about their research on the Vedas and classified the medical practices described in Atharvaveda as Surgical, Medical and Holistic.

This research was originally written in “Sanskrit” but has been translated into English and modern Indian languages. Recent studies shed more light on this ancient study of medicine. Atharvaveda has been classified into the following eight forms of medical treatments:

Charaka Samhita: Charaka Samhita was written by Charaka during the reign of the Indian deity Krishna (another reincarnation of Vishnu). Charaka had a holistic approach. His belief that the body and soul have a deep connection was clearly seen in his holistic treatment of all disorders. Charaka Samhita was written in Sanskrit and has 8400 verses.

Sushrut Samhita: Sushruta was a student of Charaka who broadened the horizon of Ayurvedic knowledge by expanding on the original texts. Sushruta Samhita deals with the surgical way of medical treatment. Believe it or not, Sushruta performed plastic surgery, fracture treatments, cosmetic surgery, prosthetic surgery, and transplanted organs – all in the 6th BC! No wonder today he is called the “Father of Surgery”. He believed that surgery and medicine together constitute a true way of treating disease. Sushruta explained 72 different surgical treatments and used over 125 instruments to perform these surgeries.

Ashtanga Hridaya: Vagbhata studied human psychology and wrote Ashtanga Hridaya in the 6th Century BC. He emphasized the psychological aspect of disease by expounding on the work of Charaka Sushrut and Samhita Sushrut. His approach was more holistic than spiritual and he believed that 85% of all disease could be cured without the intervention of doctors.

Though Ayurveda originated from the Hindu religion, it has propagated across the globe and is serving humanity in a variety of ways. Ayurveda preaches service to the sick as the only way for medical practitioners, healers and doctors to achieve happiness.

Ayurveda is one of the most ancient systems of medicine used for healing and treating illness. However Ayurveda has many facets other than purely medicinal. The more you explore, the deeper you go, the more enlightening is the knowledge that shows you different ways, all of which lead you toward a blissful life.

Ayurveda defines “body” in the form of three “Doshas”. The human body is made up of three Doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha. It is important to keep these Doshas balanced within the body to live a healthy and peaceful life. Vata is derived from Air and hence regulates bodily functions such as respiration, blood circulation, mental activity and physical movements. People with imbalanced Vata may suffer from physical and mental illness. Balancing Vata is a difficult task but it’s not impossible. Performing specific Yoga Asanas and Meditation with a combination of a balanced diet would yield magical results. Pranayam helps regulate the respiratory activities and cleans the respiratory pipe, increasing the oxygen level in the blood. Also it helps stimulate the nervous system. Sun Salutation & Meditation can be accompanied with Pranayam to stimulate the physical and mental activities. It is important to follow a balanced diet while practicing Yoga. People with predominant Vata should include foods that provide instant energy and warmth to the body. Ginger, cardamon, cinnamon, almonds, pumpkin, lemon, carrots, asparagus, bananas, mangoes all help warm the body and enhance circulation. Drinking warm water and herbal teas helps decrease the chances of dehydration and prevents hunger pangs.

Pitta derived from Fire and Water is the major source of energy for the human body. A Pitta imbalance is commonly found in Humans during the Summer Season when the solar power drives the Pitta. Excessive heat generation in the body, peptic ulcers, hot flashes, acid reflux, and inflammation are all physical problems one may suffer from Pitta imbalance. At the same time, one can suffer from mental problems such as aggressive behavior, anger, impatience, anxiety, and frustration. To balance Pitta, one should practice a daily routine with clearly defined hours of sleeping, eating, working and other regular activities. Gentle Yoga Asnas with a blend of Pranayam and Meditation will keep the body calm and cool. Diet should include watery fruits like watermelon, cucumber, and coconut. Avoid oily and spicy food in summer season and drink plenty of water. Water helps to keep the fiery Pitta calm and cool by hydrating the body. Wear light colors and cotton clothes to help control perspiration in the scorching heat of summer.

Kapha is made up of Water and Earth and is present in liquid form in the body. All the fluids and cellular activities are driven by Kapha. Kapha regulates the immune system in the body. It lubricates the joints and skin and is responsible for cellular growth. Kapha imbalance leads to problems like excessive body weight, lethargy, emotional weakness and depression, fatigue, and poor immunity. To balance Kapha, rigorous exercise is recommended with Meditation and Yoga to activate sweat glands and stay motivated. To improve body fluid circulation, drink herbal tea containing ginger, cinnamon, and clove essence, which help eliminate excessive mucous from the system. Avoid cold, sticky food like ice cream and cheese. Instead, opt for warm and stimulating foods.

Once you balance all the three Doshas, you will find yourself more confident, independent and you will get a different perspective to live your life. A life you yourself will fall in love with!

Ayurveda is an ancient study, more than 5000 years old, which describes many natural processes of healing and living a healthy life. Though its origin is in India it has now propagated throughout the world, acknowledged and adopted by many in their search for health and happiness.

The word Ayurveda means sacred knowledge of life. In the word Ayurveda, “Ayu” means Life comprising the Body, Mind, Senses and Soul. In ancient India, knowledge was sourced from the 4 “Vedas”, scriptures written as guides for the path of life – namely the RIGVEDA, SAMAVEDA, YAJURVEDA and ATHARVAVEDA.

Ayurveda says that our Universe is made up of five elements – Air, Water, Fire, Earth & Ether. The Human Body represents these elements in three forms of energy or doshas namely Vata, Pitta, & Kapha. Every human body has it’s own unique composition of these three doshas. The composition defines not only the health of the human being but also the characteristics and temperament. Any imbalance in thesethree doshas generally lead to a lot of health issues – physical as well as mental.

Vata relates to air, and this energy mainly directs functions like Respiration, Circulation and Nerve Impulse. People who have Vata imbalance often suffer from dryness of skin and hair, mood swings, headaches, joint pain, bloating, constipation.

Pitta relates to fire and water in Human body. “Fire” takes the form of Enzymes which are secreted in the stomach and liver which digest food, which is transformed in to Energy. The common symptoms of Pitta imbalance are aggression, loss of temper, acid reflux and ulcers.

Kapha is derived from the elements Earth and Water. When it is present in the right proportion it provides strength, stamina, immunity, and mental peace. Otherwise a person can experience lack of motivation, feel depressed, tired and lethargic and have abnormal food cravings.

Ayurveda says that every person should try to find their natural balanced state by modulating their behavior and environment. A person who has learned to balance all the three doshas is described as “Sushrut Samhita” in Ayurveda – which means he or she has a sound mind, healthy body and a content soul.

Greetings from the momentarily sunny Seattle, in the Evergreen state of Washington, USA. We here at Tattva’s are delighted to introduce you to the yummiest coffee substitute this side of the Cascades, and certainly beyond. Capomo, or the Maya Nut, is the fruiting seed of Brosimum alicastrum, a giant tree in the fig family.

Indigenous to tropical rain forest from Mexico to Brazil, including the Caribbean islands of Trinidad, Cuba and Jamaica, Capomo nuts are hand gathered from the forest floor by local indigenous women. While sun-drying on the roof for 3 weeks, Maya Nut Producers walk on them to crush the hard outer layer. Next, our coffee roaster roasts the dry, crushed nuts, yielding bold and complex layers of coffee-flavor with notes of cinnamon and chocolate. Here at Tattva’s, we enjoy this delicious drink all through the day. In the morning, we brew Capomo with coffee, adding a heaping serving of nutrients to a reduced serving of caffeine. After lunch, Capomo brew both enlivens and relaxes the afternoon work load. And what a treat to enjoy a steaming hot cup of “coffee” after dinner! Our slow-roasted Capomo tastes most shockingly like that beloved morning pick-me-up when simmered on the stovetop for 10 to 40 minutes, according to desired strength. You can also brew Capomo in a traditional drip coffee maker, percolator, or any way you choose. Add your choice of milk and sweetener or drink it straight up black like a Mighty Sailor ~ a 40 minute simmer will surely put hair on your chest!

While this super food does not contain a single drop of caffeine, it does contain tryptophan, a naturally occurring amino acid that aids in both relaxation and a sense of well-being. In stark contrast to caffeine, it is not stimulating to the central nervous system, so there are no jitters and no crashes. As a superfood, Capomo serves to build health and energy levels naturally over time, so the more you drink it, the better you feel. It is one of the richest plant sources of amino acids and protein and also high in fiber, potassium, iron, zinc, vitamins A, B, C and E. Calcium and magnesium are perfectly balanced in the Capomo nut, making it an easy to absorb food source of these integral minerals.

The Maya Nut tree was the staple food to indigenous peoples all through its habitat, but over past years has fallen out of recognition. The Maya Nut Institute, a non-profit public charity devoted to “find balance between people, food and forest,” exists to bring knowledge of this bounty back to the people. Since their 2001 inception, more than 600 rural and indigenous women have established 25 fully autonomous Maya Nut businesses with a strong emphasis on both education and re-forestation. The Maya Nut Institute’s reforestation partners have planted over 2,000,000 trees in Haiti, Columbia, Guatemala, Peru, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Mexico. So why would an entire non-profit organization devote all its work to a single species of tree?

The Maya Nut tree compels humans in many ways, but most notably, one Maya Nut tree can produce as much as 800 pounds of food in a given year, and live to over 100 years. Though native to the rain forests, it thrives in a wide range of ecosystems, making it an important climate-change resistant food source. The fruit is eaten by avian and mammalian animals, the seeds used by people for both food and medicine; even the leaves can be steamed and eaten like spinach! And as you all know, he’s strong to the finish ‘cause he eats his spinach, he’s Popeye the Sailor Man!